Archive for October, 2009

The thing people reading the New York Times media and advertising review section of the papers website might wonder about it why and how? Fox News, the currently embattled news leader and setter of the national news cycle in the USA has its finger on the pulse of people’s views. The network commentators and talk shows go on the fringe and make some cringe but basically they know what people like and are getting the numbers that CNN, the major broadcast networks ABC, CBS, and NBC have not been able to …

I’ve been a little busy on m hosted site have not been paying too much attention to the wordpress blogs and blogger side of the blog world…

here’s a few links to some stories I wrote or posted or tweeted on recently….

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva of the Kingdom of Thailand welcomes President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo upon her arrival at the lobby of the Royal Dusit Hall in Hua Hin, Thailand before she attended the 4th East Asia Summit Sunday, (October 25, 2009). …

The thing people reading the New York Times media and advertising review section of the papers website might wonder about it why and how?Fox News, the currently embattled news leader and setter of the national news cycle in the USA has its finger on the pulse of people’s views. …

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo commended today the country’s business sector for the assistance it extended the government in the relief and rehabilitation work.
“My heartfelt thanks to to the members of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), its provincial and regional chapters, and its other affiliate business chambers for their assistance to the victims of typhoons “Ondoy” and “Pepeng,” the President said at the 35th Philippine Business Conference) PBC and Expo at the Manila Hotel this afternoon. The President asked PCCI and its members to help the government cope …

Hairstylist Ricky Reyes supports GMA’s job creation project for typhoon victims
A famous hairstylist has thrown his support behind the effort of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to help typhoon victims get back on their feet. Ricky Reyes, president of the Filipino Hairdressers Cooperative (FilHairCoop), said his group is holding training courses for interested residents displaced by the flooding brought by Ondoy in Metro Manila and Pepeng in Northern Luzon.
A total of 10,000 young men and women will benefit from the program in Region 1, Region 2, and the Cordillera Autonomous Region. President …

CANDABA, Pampanga – The United Nations-World Food Program (UN-WFP) assured President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today the whole world is united in helping victims of typhoons “Ondoy” and “Pepeng.”
“The WFP will always be here to support the government of the people of the Philippines to recover and rebuild and to make sure (they receive) basic necessities from us,”
UN-WFP executive director Josette Sheeran said in her opening statement. Sheeran said the United Nations still believes in the strong spirit of the Filipino people to recover from the tragedy because “the Filipino people are …

Typhoon Mirinae (Santi): Enters Philippines AOR on Beeline to Manila a new storm fast and furious

28 October 2009 No Comment

As if the Philippines has not had enough of bad weather the US Navy and US Air Force Joint typhoon warning center is forecasting a direct path to Manila for a new Typhoon with a international name Mirinae, the Korean word for ‘Galaxy’,

The Storm is forecast by Military and Civilian meteorologists to be in general vicinity of Manila by Halloween evening, meaning that a fast moving storm may the one knocking on doors in the Philippines instead of kids trick or treating and the rap tap tapping on the chanber door may be people telling residents to head for higher ground, if anything is consolation the storm being fast moving means a quick slam-bam-thank-you ma’am hit which in disaster terms is often kinder than a prolonged deluge that no one in the country wants to see more off.

The Typhoon is a medium sized one and its path taking it towards manila comes at a bad time for thousands who have just cleaned away debris from flood waters. Lake levels and dams have somewhat normalized at this time a week of hot dry weather with only occasional showers has had a impact on the water levels.

The other consolation is the three weeks of storms as well as constant pounding has brought the alert levels up for disaster awareness teams and those who deal with rescue and response. The season still has till February to go the last few years have relatively spared the capitol region in the past but the wave of storms is actually quite typical in number albeit these have come earlier than normal for the country.

In comparison at this time before Typhoon Lupits approach to the country, Manila’s NDCC was already posting advisories and taking steps. Plans so well laid out that at the end of the day – no one died – no one needed to be rescued and even if the storm did not hit but a small portion of the Northern most tip of Luzon.

Ramil’s preventive steps perhaps – but I hope not – will not allow some to fall back to complacency and being prepared for worst made for the best of news – even for me a journalist – who basically earns from bad news. (Sorry but – if it bleeds it leads! Sad but true in the news biz!) became a non-story for a change.

Ramil final NDCC Situational Update

A. Affected Population/Pre-emptive Evacuation of Population (Details in Tab A)

Typhoon Santi headed to towards Luzon but will not affect the country in next 24 hours per PAGASA

PAGASA Warning: Mirinae to be named ‘Santi’ once it enters RP area of responsibility

The Typhoon East of Central Luzon has entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility and was named “SANTI”.

Location of Center:
(as of 10:00 p.m.)

1,210 km East of Casiguran, Aurora

Coordinates:

16.3°N, 135.0°E

Strength:

Maximum sustained winds of 140 kph near the center
and gustiness of up to 170 kph

Movement:

West at 24 kph

Forecast Positions/Outlook:

Thursday evening:
710 km East of Casiguran, AuroraFriday evening:
250 km East of Casiguran, AuroraSaturday evening:
50 km East of Dagupan City or
30 km South of Baguio City

No Public Storm Warning Signals Raised

This disturbance will not affect any part of the country within the next 24 hours.The public and the disaster coordinating councils concerned are advised to take appropriate actions and watch for the next bulletin to be issued at 11 a.m. tomorrow.